Indeed.  I couldn't have said it better myself.

You know, before I get into my reply to the question itself. I just wanted to say to those of you compelled to simply say how smoking is a bad habit. I think it's safe to say that everybody knows that! Some people don't care. Some do it because they enjoy it. But saying how repulsive it is just because you're compelled to say it is a conditioned answer. It just bothers me when someone tries to ask a question about if you have ever had a character in a story who smoked or if some other similar smoking related question. Getting that typical, "Smoking is bad for you!" answer is borderlining spam IMO! That's not what was asked.

That said, I happened to include one of my main characters as a smoker (with a holder I might add). It's NOT the muscle woman, but another woman. It just happened to be my first story too. I used to think that smoking was simply no good. And for all intents and purposes, it mostly isn't. But like drinking or eating red meat in occasional moderation, smoking can be an enjoyable sensation. I'm considered a nonsmoker, but every once in a while, I'll buy a pack and over the course of like a month or so, smoke through that pack at a time when I'm relaxed. This tends to really enchance that relaxation. And it's even very pleasurable for me.

So my point is that smoking is a legal choice any adult can make. With all the people telling others not to smoke, it's really not up to them. It's your own choice and if by the time you are of legal age, you STILL don't know what smoking has the potential of doing to you, then you've been living under a rock. I'm certainly not encouraging anyone to start. I'm simply stating my opinion.

And by the way, a woman smoking (especially with a holder) CAN be sexy! Again IMO! So there!

Will do! ^_^

I think that smoking still has a place in stories and in life. In a story, I've often used it to add colour and depth to characters who are shy or reticent, using the way they smoke as an indicator of their mood or emotions. This is actually taken off from a famous architect who would never speak when critiquing his students, simply (as legend has it) sitting and smoking a cigar and letting them interpret his moods through the way he smoked it.

Also, with the new laws on smoking in the UK and everything happening with labeling and awareness campaigns, I think that it is worth hearing the other side of the debate: enjoyed maturely, responsibly and in moderation, like any other addictive substance (caffeine, chocolate, etc.) it can be pleasurable and relaxing to smoke. However, I would only smoke the best and would never bother with cigarettes. I don't think many characters I write would either, but hey-ho!